noun · femininefirst declension
obrussa
obrussa f (genitive obrussae)
Meaning
- femininetesting of gold by fire in a cupel, assay
- femininetest, touchstone, proof, assay
Declension
| form | singular | plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | obrussa | obrussae |
| genitive | obrussae | obrussārum |
| dative | obrussae | obrussīs |
| accusative | obrussam | obrussās |
| ablative | obrussā | obrussīs |
| vocative | obrussa | obrussae |
obrussa, ae (pure Gr. collat. form = χρυσίον ὄβρυζον, obrȳzum aurum, Vulg. 2 Par. 3, 5; Isid. 16, 18, 2), f., = ὄβρυζον,
I. the testing or assaying of gold by fire in a cupel (class.).
I. Lit.:
auri experimentum ignis est: id ipsum obrussam vocant, Plin. 33, 3, 19, § 59: aurum ad obrussam, refined, pure gold, Suet. Ner. 44.—II. Trop., a test, touchstone, proof:
adhibenda tamquam obrussa ratio, Cic. Brut. 74, 258: sic verus ille animus probatur: haec ejus obrussa est, this is its touchstone, its test, Sen. Ep. 13, 1: si omnia argumenta ad obrussam coeperimus exigere, to put to the proof, test accurately, id. Q. N. 4, 5, 1.Charlton Lewis's shorter dictionary for students: the same scholarship in plain, modern definitions.
obrussa ae, f
, ὄβρυζον, a test, touchstone, proof: tamquam obrussa ratio.
Origins
From Ancient Greek ὄβρυζα (óbruza, “assaying of gold”), ultimately from Hurrian 𒂁𒄷𒌋𒌒𒊒𒍑𒄭 (DUG.ḫu-u-ub-ru-uš-ḫi /ḫubrušḫi/, “crucible, smelter, melting-pot”), likely via the route of Hittite 𒄷𒌒𒊒𒍑𒄭 (ḫu-up-ru-uš-ḫi /ḫuprušḫi-/); for further connections see Arabic إِبْرِيز (ʔibrīz, “pure gold”).